Legal wrap: Unneighbourly disputes, Covid rent arrears and an ash disposal site

Welcome to your weekly round-up of the pick of the content published on EG Legal over the past seven days. This week, the focus is on two key pieces of legislation. The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 has finally received royal assent, and we have an expert summary on what it means for ground rents in residential leases. Meanwhile, the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill continues to make its way through parliament, and authors from the Property Litigation Association outline some of the major concerns they have about the arbitration process it will introduce to resolve outstanding disputes over pandemic lockdown rent arrears. On a related note, our Clause for Thought series covers lease provisions for rent arrears, and there’s much more below. Legal news High Court rules in unneighbourly dispute between Knightsbridge mansion owners Fallout over access led to the first High Court case relating to Access to Neighbouring Land Act Parish fails to block extraction of millions of tonnes of ash from green belt Judge backs planners over development of a pulverised fuel ash disposal site Legal features Is the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill fit for purpose? Lauren King and Peter Bourke highlight a number of flaws in the government’s planned arbitration process for Covid lockdown rent arrears Losing ground: inside the Act abolishing ground rents in new long resi leases Robert Barham assesses the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 Back to Basics: What is a house in multiple occupation? Adam McDonald offers a straightforward guide to HMOs Rent controls: striking the right balance Brian Hutcheson asks if rent controls act as a barrier to investment north of the border Evaluations in valuation: further guidance on rents under the Telecoms Code Laura West says, as usual, it’s good news for the operators, and little consolation for landowners Clause for thought: clawing back arrears Taking a pragmatic approach to arrears will keep a sale on track Practice points Inflated purchase price through landbanking scam does not preclude hope value Budhathoki and others v Metropolitan Borough Council of Stockport Access to neighbouring land: ‘love thy neighbour’ and resolve your differences Prime Holdings 11 Ltd v Thurloe Lodge Ltd Estate administration: severing a joint tenancy Dunbabin and others v Dunbabin Party walls: when does the Party Wall etc Act 1996 apply? Shah v Power and another Extra courtesy needed when dealing with bankrupt’s spouse In the matter of Swan (acting as a trustee) v Joyce and Joyce Lease extension: valuation conundrum when a property is sold in quick succession Brickfield Properties Ltd v Ullah and others Case summaries Shah v Power and another Party wall – Party Wall etc Act 1996 – Jurisdiction R (on the application of Whitley Parish Council) v North Yorks County Council Town and country planning – Planning permission – Green belt – Ash disposal site Dunbabin and others v Dunbabin Property – Beneficial joint tenancy – Severance Whitehall Capital Ltd v Land South East Ltd Contract – Construction – Side letter For more legal articles and to search our extensive archive, visit EG Legal    To send feedback, e-mail jess.harrold@eg.co.uk or tweet @EGPropertyNews